Surface unit assembly



1967 J; J. JASIONOWSKI 3,305,667

SURFACE UNIT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed May 15, 1964 I N V ENTOR. zonal/aka k JbayvhfJiza \Qm BY 1967 J. J. JASIONOWSKI 3,305,667

SURFACE UNIT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1964 United StatesPatent O 3,305,667 SURFACE UNIT ASSEMBLY Joseph .I. Jasionowski, Niles,Ill., assignor to Form Corporation, a corporation of (lhio Filed May 13,1964, 8er. No. 367,161 1 Claim. (Cl. 219-447) This invention relates toelectrical surface units for use is electric ranges and moreparticularly to an electric surface unit assembly which is particularlyadaptable for use as a substitute unit for gas burners in a stoveutilizing the major components of a gas range.

It is the general object of the present invention to produce a new andimproved surface unit and surface unit assembly of the characterdescribed.

The use of electricity in cooking is constantly increasing and manymanufacturers of gas stoves have recognized this fact and sought toexpand their scope of operations to include the manufacture not only ofgas stoves but also of electric stoves. In such instances, themanufacturer desires to use as many of the components and as much of thedesign of the gas stove as he can while making the conversion to anelectric stove. The electrical surface unit assembly of the presentinvention is particularly adapted to act as a substitute for gas burnersutilizing a great number of the components of a gas stove and withoutrequiring any substantial changes in design. Accordingly, it is afurther object of the present invention to produce an electrical surfaceunit assembly which can be utilized by the manufacturer of a gas stoveas a substitute for gas burners in such stoves, with but a minimum ofredesign being necessary to effect the changeover.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent from the following description and drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a gas stove incorporating the unit of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the upper portion of the gas stove ofFIG. 1 and the unit usable therewith;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a lower left-hand portion of FIG. 1 andsomewhat enlarged;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the terminal portion of a two coil unitshowing the mounting plate;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 66 of FIG. 5.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a gas stove top 10provided with the usual burner rough box 11 fitted on the top of thestove. A cook top 12 overlies the burner rough box and is securedthereto by the screws 13 as shown in FIG. 4. Resting on the cook top isa grate 14 having a plurality of openings 15 therein, each receiving aheating coil 16. The heating coils are shown as being provided with asensor unit although it may also be desirable to utilize fewer sensorsor none at all. Th coils are each supported in the grate opening and onthe upper surface of the cook top by means of three-legged spiders 17,each leg of which is provided with a depending portion 18 resting on theupper surface of the cook top and supporting the coil 16 in suchposition. Terminals 20 extend vertically downwardly from the surfaceunit and through a mounting plate 21 provided with apertures throughwhich the terminals extend. The coil 16 may have two or four terminals,depending upon the nature of the surface unit itself, the coil shown inFIG. 3 being provided with two such terminals while four terminals areshown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The mounting plate 21 is constructed to rest upon and be secured to theupper surface of the cook top by means of screws 22, there being asilicone rubber gasket positioned to be compressed between the mountingplate 21 and the upper surface of the cook top 12 so as to provide atight seal therebetween. The terminals 20 extend through a slot 24 inthe cook top positioned beneath each of the openings 15 in the grate andterminate in insulating connector blocks 25 located in the spaceexisting between the burner rough box 11 and the underside of the cooktop 12. The blocks 25 are, of course, connected to suitable sources ofelectrical energy to provide current for the heating coils. If desired,a pan control 26 of usual construction may be used, the control having aterminal 27 extending through the mounting plate 21 as indicated.

The mounting plate is of course sealed to the essential surfaces of theterminals 20 as they pass therethrough preferably by crimping the edgesof the apertures against the terminals and the unit thus provides aliquid-tight arrangement which may be cleaned by the housewife simply byremoving the grate and thereby exposing the cook top surface. Anyleakage of fluids is prevented by the seals described from entering intothe space beneath the cook top.

It will be noted that the only change of consequence in design from theusual gas stove is simply the elimination of the gas burner, and thesurface unit of the present invention can readily be slipped in placeover the burner rough box of the conventional gas stove. The energybeing electrical, it will require of course suitable electricalconduits, switches, etc. for operation, but these may be of conventionalform and present no problem.

I claim:

A surface unit assembly particularly adaptable for use as a substitutefor gas burners in a gas cook stove having a burner rough boxcomprising, a cook top shaped to overlie the rough box, a gratesupported over the bottom of the cook top and having a plurality ofopenings therein, an electrical heating coil in each opening, a threelegged spider having downwardly extending leg portions resting on theupper surface of the cook top for supporting each coil in a horizontalposition in its respective opening, each coil having electric terminalsextending vertically downwardly from the coil, a mounting plate havingapertures through which the terminals of each coil extend, the edges ofthe apertures sealingly engaging the terminals, a gasket, means securingthe mounting plate to the cook top and compressing the gasket betweenthe bottom of each mounting plate and the upper surface of the cook topto seal the juncture therebetween, and means in the space between thecook top and the burner rough box for supplying electrical energy tosaid terminals.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,873 5/1923Forshee 219-445 1,998,308 4/1935 Causse 219-445 2,810,057 10/1957 Nolan2l9-445 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. L. H. BENDER, AssistmntExaminer.

